Openable side panel for load carrying vehicles

Abstract

A side panel which is openably and closably mounted on a bed of a load carrying vehicle includes a pipe in which a compression coil spring is disposed with its one end secured to the pipe. The other end of the compression coil spring is connected to a guide plate movable through a slot in the pipe and pivotably coupled to a link pivotably connected to a frame mounted on the bed. The side panel can be angularly moved between the open and closed positions with a small manual force with the aid of the resiliency of the compression coil spring. The secured end of the compression coil spring is positionally adjustable within the pipe so that the resilient force of the compression coil spring can be varied. The compression coil spring is held in frictional engagement with the pipe to allow the side panel to be brought to a stop at any desired position between the open and closed positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An openable side panel mechanism for a load carrying vehicle having a bed, comprising: a pair of spaced frames adapted to be mounted on the bed of the load carrying vehicle at ends of the bed and provided with a spring enclosing member for receiving a compression coil spring therein;   a beam extending between and joined to said frames to form a frame assembly;   a side panel extending along and pivotably mounted on said beam and movable between open and closed positions in relationship to said pair of spaced frames, said side panel including at least one frame member;   a compression coil spring having one end movable in said enclosing member and the other end secured to the enclosing member, said spring being disposed in said enclosing member such that said spring slides frictionally along the inner wall of the enclosing member when the diameter of the coil expands outwardly due to the compression thereof;   a guide means movably disposed in said enclosing member and secured to said one end of said compression coil spring; and   a link pivotably connected between said guide means and said side panel frame member, whereby said side panel can be angularly moved between said open and closed positions under a force from said compression coil spring, and can be held at a desired position between said open and closed positions by the frictional engagement between said compression coil spring and the inner wall of said enclosing member.   
     
     
       2. An openable side panel mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said one of said frames includes a hollow portion formed therein for serving as said spring enclosing member. 
     
     
       3. An openable side panel mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the other end of said compression coil spring is adjustably secured to said enclosing member. 
     
     
       4. An openable side panel mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said guide means includes a guide plate mounted on said movable end of said compression coil spring and movable through said enclosing member, said guide plate being operatively coupled to said link. 
     
     
       5. An openable side panel mechanism according to claim 1, including a collar fixed to said beam, said side panel being pivotably mounted on said collar. 
     
     
       6. An openable side panel mechanism according to claim 1, including a hinge fixed to said beam, said side panel being pivotably mounted on said hinge. 
     
     
       7. An openable side panel mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said side panel is L-shaped in cross section so that said side panel can be stably held in said open position due to the position of its own center of gravity. 
     
     
       8. An openable side panel mechanism according to claim 1, including an actuator lever connected to said side panel, and a control rope secured to said actuator lever, said side panel being angularly movable from said closed position toward said open position by manually operating said actuator lever through said control rope. 
     
     
       9. An openable side panel mechanism for a load carrying vehicle having a bed, comprising: a frame assembly adapted to be mounted on the bed;   a side panel pivotably mounted on said frame assembly and manually movable between open and closed positions in relationship to said frame assembly, said side panel including at least one frame member and a spring enclosing member for receiving a compression coil spring therein;   said compression coil spring having one end movable in said enclosing member and the other end secured to the enclosing member, said spring being disposed in said enclosing member such that said spring slides frictionally along the inner wall of the enclosing member when the diameter of the coil expands outwardly due to the compression thereof;   a guide means movably disposed in said enclosing member secured to said one end of said compression coil spring; and   a link pivotably connected between said guide means and said frame assembly, whereby said side panel can be angularly moved between said open and closed positions under a force from said compression coil spring, and can be held at a desired position between said open and closed positions by frictional engagement between said compression coil spring and said enclosing member.   
     
     
       10. An openable side panel mechanism according to claim 9, including a knock pin by which said other end of said compression coil spring is adjustably disposed with respect to said enclosing member at said selected one of different positions. 
     
     
       11. An openable side panel mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said compression coil spring has a coil diameter which varies with respect to a coil pitch thereof. 
     
     
       12. An openable side panel mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said compression coil spring has a coil diameter which varies with respect to a coil pitch thereof. 
     
     
       13. An openable side panel mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the other end of said compression coil spring is adjustably secured to said enclosing member. 
     
     
       14. An openable side panel mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said frame member includes a hollow portion formed therein for serving as said spring enclosing member. 
     
     
       15. An openable side panel mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said guide means includes a guide plate mounted on said movable end of said compression coil spring and movable through said enclosing member, said guide plate being operatively coupled to said link. 
     
     
       16. An openable side panel mechanism according to claim 9, including a collar fixed to said beam, said side panel being pivotably mounted on said collar. 
     
     
       17. An openable side panel mechanism according to claim 9, including a hinge fixed to said beam, said side panel being pivotably mounted on said hinge. 
     
     
       18. An openable side panel mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said side panel is L-shaped in cross section so that said side panel can be stably held in said open position due to the position of its own center of gravity. 
     
     
       19. An openable side panel mechanism according to claim 9, including an actuator lever connected to said side panel, and a control rope secured to said actuator lever, said side panel being angularly movable from said closed position toward said open position by manually operating said actuator lever through said control rope.